Summer Adventures with Kate & JR (7 page)

The hay field stretched out wide in front of them, the sky a royal blue above. It was a perfect day. It would soon be time to go home. They needed to get back before the sun began to set. “We will have to go soon. The woods will be getting dark before the sun sets,” Grandma Sue explained.

Kate and JR did not want to go home. They wanted to sit and watch the flock of Canada geese above the field. The geese were flying in a V formation as they looked for a lake or pond to land upon.

Suddenly, out of the woods, four wild turkeys strutted toward the hay field for their evening meal. Kate almost dropped her cookie as she reached for her camera. She snapped a photo. The turkeys spied them and fled with wings flapping. JR called out, “Don't worry, we won't stay.”

Kate and JR knew it was time to go. “Will we see more animals on our way home?” Kate asked.

Grandma Sue replied, “I don't know. The purpose of an adventure is to look for the unexpected. Keep your eyes and ears open.”

They set out on the path, hoping to catch a glimpse of some more of the animals that lived in the forest. But none were in sight, just a few birds flying from tree limb to limb. “We must have made too much noise on our way through the woods,” Kate sighed.

“But we sure did have a good time meeting the animals on our way to the hay field. I have treasures to show Grandpa Jim when we get home, too,” JR replied as he reached in his pocket and pulled out the acorns and smooth stones he had picked up on the path.

“That you do,” Grandma Sue agreed, “and pictures to show.”

As they came out of the woods with their grandparents' home in sight, the sun was beginning to set. The sky was painted in swathes of red, gold, yellow, and orange. Kate snapped a final photo to remember the day and waved to Grandpa Jim, who was coming up the path toward them. Kate and JR ran to greet him. They had a lot of stories to share.